Remit I-T panel report on Data Protection Bill, Brittas writes to Dhankhar, Birla

CPI(M) MP John Brittas on Sunday wrote to the Lok Sabha speaker and Rajya Sabha chairperson to “remit” a recent Communications and Information Technology Standing Committee report on the Data Protection Bill, arguing that the report cannot be adopted without the Bill being introduced in either House of the Parliament and it being referred to the members of the Standing Committee.

“It is imperative to note that the said Digital Personal Data Protection Bill had neither been introduced before either of the Houses of Parliament till date, nor was it referred to the Standing Committee by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha or the Speaker, as the case may be, for examination,” Brittas wrote in his letter dated July 28.

The MP, who is a member of the Standing Committee  quoted provisions in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Rules and said that the Standing Committees are explicitly prohibited from “examining any Bills that have not been referred to them by the Chairman or the Speaker after their introduction in either House”.